The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-09-16

That the Confederation should he strength
emed little, SO far az TO have All independent
revenue and exercise some control over CON-
merce, each state to retain its absolute sove'
reignty as before. The convention con.
sidered this at some length and rejected it,
not quite unanimously.
| Third-The moderate Nationalist plan.
Fourth-The moderate states rights plan.
Out OF the last two, by compromise, the
convention evolved the present constitution,
with the understanding that it was to be con.
| strued according TO the plain meaning Of the
words on these three basis principles:
First-That the power of the flag, the
sword and the national purse land these con-
stitute sovereignty should he vested exclu-
svely in the national government.
Second-That as to these, the public prop
erty, especially the land, certain general
functions, aad all foreign affairs, the people
OF the United States should constitute one
nation.
Third-That just enousii-and no more
powers should be taken from the states to
constitute a government for these general
purposes, and all other powers remain in the
states us before.
James Madison came with the outline of a
constitution already formed and employed
the days of waiting in urging its main points
upon the delegates who first arrived. Ed
mulld Randolph had elaborated certain prin-
ciples in addition to those of Madison. Wash
inyton had drawn up the heads of these con-
situations. Paterson, of New Jersey, had a
plan which was merely to strengthen the
confederation. And it was known that Con-
necticut was coming with still another.
U'ba Nayy -TarSav caiJ tbnca 1pbn
spoke first, "is federal, the Virginia system
national; in the first the powers flow from
the state governments, but in the latter they
derive authority from the people of the
states" And even before the convention
met, the extreme states rights party had
sounded an alarm about the Virginia plan.
William Jones, of North Carolina, refused to
serve as he understood the convention was
designed to subordinate the states. and was
replaced by Hugh Williamson, an "orlginal
free soiler," who wanted slavery excluded
from all new states. Patrick Henry. Thomas
Nelson and Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia,
refused to accept their appointments. as they
would not act under the Virginia resolutions,
and were replaced by men of much less note
but ardent nationalist. Edmund Randolph
wavered. His first intent was to vote for a
mere strengthening of the confederation, but
his personal record pointed to nationalism as
his final position. Though but 80 years old,
he had borne very active part in the revo-
luton and was now governor of Virginia.
To him, therefore, was intrusted the duty of
presenting the "Virginia plan" to the conven-
ton, which he did May 90 in preamble and
fifteen resolutions
They declared for national legislature of
two branches, with specific powers over
national concerns; a national executive to be
chosen by the legislature and eligible for but
one term; a council of revision to examine
and approve the acts of the legislature before
they should 60 into force; q national judci-
airy, substantially such as we now have; a
national revenue to be collected from the
states by quotas, and the right of suffrage in
each state should be the basis of enumeration
for apportioning the quota; new states to be
admitted on terms of equality, and each state
to be required to have, and to be guaranteed,
republican form of government This plan
contained two notable clauses One provided
for representation in both branches accord
ing to populations; the other suggested that
only Stree inhabitants" should be counted for
representation. We do not find in the
scanty accounts that the latter proposition
attracted much attention, but the former at
once provoked fierce opposition from the
smaller states Charles Pinckney, of South
Carolina, only 90 years old, presented series
of resolutions very similar to those from Vir-
ginia, and both were referred to a committee
of one from each state.
On the morning of the 30th Nathaniel Cor
ham, of Massachusetts, offered resolution
that "a national government ought to be es-
consisting of supreme legislative
executive and judiciary" Pierce Butler, of
South Carolina, now passed over from the
Confederationists TO the Nationalist, saying
that the division of powers between three de-
partments, the democratic branch coming di-
rect from the people and holding the power
of the purse, had removed his objections. So
the Gorham resolution passed, Connecticut |
only voting in the negative; New York d. |
vided Next day the first clause of the Vir- |
yinia plan, that there should be national |
legislature of two branches passed without |
Debate, Pennsylvania alone voting in the neg
alive. Three weeks later she withdrew her neg
alive, and the vote was made unanimous All |
The powers of the legislature were agreed
Upon the same day. On the LIST of June the
executive was taken up and debated long
md earnestly. The veto power was conferred
~ the votes of eight states against Connecti-
tut and Maryland. The judiciary was de-
)ated for week and settled nearly as we
low have it. Then came the hard fight as
% equality of representation; and the first
was that each state should have at
east one senator and others in some proper
ion to its population. The remaining Vir-
,inia resolutions were gone through with
apidly, and i'll thirteen sessions the work on
hem was complete. But the smaller states
lad been deprived of equal representation,
nd their discomfort soon took active form.
New Jersey organized and led the oppo-
ition of the smaller states. Connecticut, by
Roger Sherman, had already presented and
ehemently urged what might be called the
noderate states rights plan, but it was merged
n the New Jersey plan," which Paterson
resented on the 18th of June. 1t provided
or legislature with a single house, and was
eneraly less national than the "Virginia
Ian" The convention debated this five days,
nd by the vote of seven states rejected it. In
be midst of this debate Hamilton introduced
is plan-for extreme Capitalization 1t was
praised by everybody but supported by
obody," says one member in his memoirs
was, in fact, q plan for an elective mon
rchy, with democratic features-very much
1ch government as that of England now is,